Album Notes

BEACON is the second release from songwriter Dick Neal. Musically, it lives at the intersection of folk, bluegrass, and acoustic pop—where traditional tonality meets contemporary composition.

Its ten original songs explore cycles—life and death, war and peace, boom and bust, jubilation and heartbreak—and the desire to transcend and heal.

BEACON is an enrichment of the soil first tilled by HOE—DN's previous CD of original material for acoustic string band—which has received critical praise: “great songwriter”—Fairfield County (CT) Advocate; “the original music is fresh and interesting”—Bluegrass Now Magazine.

With the exception of stellar contributions from bassists Bob Csugie and Jordan Jancz, fiddlers Dan Tressler, Larry Deming, and Liam Bailey, and instrumentalists/vocalists Dan Carlucci, John Redgate, Mark Mirando, Katie Wilson, and Stephen K. Miller, DN played most all of the instrumental parts on BEACON while also singing the lead vocals.

DN is a student of music, songwriting, record production, and live performance. A multi-instrumentalist (guitar, 5-string banjo, mandolin, dobro, slide, pedal steel), he has been privileged to make a living as a musician and to work in a wide variety of settings and styles. Several of his compositions have been recorded by other artists, and he has produced numerous acclaimed recordings. DN teaches both privately and at the college level, and he lives in Southern Connecticut.

www.dickneal.com